Motor-starter.



A. C. MOWILLIAMS. MOTOR STARTER. APPLICATION FILED 11:13.19, 1912.

1,121,567, Patented Dec.15,1914.

3 SHEETS-SEEET 1.

A. C. MGWILLIAMS.

MOTOR STARTER. APPLICATION PIpEb FEB. 19. 1012.

1,121,567, Patented Dec. 15,1914.

3 SHEETSr-SHEET 2.

E Q 222, //ZW Q1345 1 5 1 4 5 A. G. MGWILLIAMS.

MOTOR STARTER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.19;1912. 1,121,567; Patented Dec. 15, 1914.

3 BHBETSSHEET3.

19 ing the motor a running 0 star increases the resistance effect and give the delta connection.

CHICAGO, ILLENGIS.

MOTOR-STARTER.

Application. filed FcbruarylQ. 1812.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, ARTHUR C. Mel VIL- LIAMS, a citizen of the United States,-residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and 5 State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Motor- Starters, 01 which the following is a. specification.

It is becoming common practice in operatalternnting current motors to dispense with special starting devices, and to rely merely upon switches. In small motors or" five horse power or under no special provision is made against a rush of current into when it is starting, for the currents dealt with are comparatively small and ordinarily no harm will he done by turning on the full voltage directly on to the motor. In motors shove five horse power 20 some device is necessary in order that the initial rush of current may not produce an undue strain on the motor that is starting or the generating apparatus which supplies it. As-the flow of current, htnv-ever all 5 alternating current motors is greater at the start than it is after the motor has attained its normal speed, it is customary to provide two sets of t'uses, to-wit, a starting set having comparativelylarge capacity and having normal capacity. Each set has its own terminal, and the attendant in starting up first switches on the supply current through the starting terminals and fuses and then after the motor at- 35 tains its speed switches over to the running terminals. ln the larger motors for" three wire alternating systems, sin terminals are provided and these are so connected to the coils that three of the terminals will give a connection, and the other three a delta connection. Motors constructed in this way are termed star-delta motors. in starting them the terminals first employed are the ones which give a star connection for this reduces the voltage to about fiityeight per cent. of what it would be with the delta. winding. After the motor has attained speed the tendant switches over to the terminals which Thus it will be seen that in these larger motors, also, there e. starting set of terminals and running set (and it may he added that with arger motors as well as with the ones it usual to provide lsrger Specification of Letters letent.

Serial 3070. 6755, 263.

capacity fuses for the starting terminals and normal capaci y fuses for the running terminal). Sing'e phase alternating current motors are also provided with both sterting and running terminals for similar reasons. In either of the cases above mentioned the attendant has to Wait for the motor to attain its speed before he can leave it, which obviously has its disadvantages.

The object of my invention is to provide simple and eiiicient means for automatically switching over from the starting terminals to the running terminals in the proper manner after the attendant has thrown in the starting connections. Ancillary to this general object it is my purpose to provide means whereby the lapse of time between the hrowing in by the a 'tendant and the throw- 'n over by the apparatus may be regulated to suit the particular operating conditions 01' tie place where the motor is installed.

I obtain my objects by the apparatus illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figurel is oi my starter in the term adapted for the smaller motors. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section thcreci on line 22, Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a vertical section of my starter especially adapted for the larger motors. lhis view also shows certain modifications in the form or check valve. Figs. i and 5 illustrate the well lmown delta ano star connections respectively, and Fig. 6 is a diagram showing the connections for one OI" the larger motors provided with star-delta connections.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

First con idering the apparatus of the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, which is suitable for small. motors; a box 1 having a cover 2 both consisting preferably of wood is inclosed within an outer casingii which consists preferably of sheet metal. The box and easing are adapted beiilled with oil when the apparatus is in use. On oositc walls of the be are fastened block. a

consistingof Wood or other insulat" material. {)n the front of block lett, Figs. 1 and are tic "i g terininals and 9 connec' to starting :1 general sectional elevation fuses ll), 1 12 s and three runningterm nals and connectcn to l fuse l? 18 respectively.

outing to mmel is associated front of the blcell CID , end a plunger which consists in the minals 30, 31,

a running terminal, as shownythe running running tern ials are arranga-id pairs; and oruiuaril are three pairs on the and three on the back for connections her i a secrnd similar of after nienti ned.

The 'luses l0, 16 are connected through a conductor :20 to one corner of the motor winding ll. Fuses 11 and 17 are connected by conductor 2230 another corner of said winding, and luses 12 and 18 are connected by a conductor 23 to another corner of said winding, 011 block 5 at the right, Figs. 1 and 2, are fastened three elongated ter- 32. These in the present in stance are connected by conductors 33, 3 and respectively to the different branches of a three wire circuit from which the source of energy is obtained. These terminals and COlll'lCl tions are also duplicated on the back of the clock. Three connector bars ell), all and 42 u re secured to the front of a frame, which in the present design consists of a pair of wooden strips l having between them a hollow wooden cylinder ll having horizontal grooves 45 therein or receiving said bars. Vithin cylinder ll is secured a tubular metallic casing lb. The parts 40 to 40 inclusive move as a single structure and the r lation of the parts is such that when this 'ucture-movcs upward the bars all), ll, 42 establish conne'tions between the terminals 30, 31, 32 on the one side and the proprr terminals 7, S, 9, 13, 14, 15 on the other. Connector bars 4L0, ll and d9 are fastened to the back of the frame to engage terminals arranged similarly to those in front. in will be noted that in this, the preferred construction, the connector bars more parallel to themselves, and thus break contact at both ends. This double break in oil a'll'ords maximum safety.

The tube 46 above mentioned projects downward below the rest of ti o structure of which it is a part and carries at the lowe present design o l a disk 50 h ving a n n of apertures 51 therein and secured a hollow cylindrical casing 5-3 to a'lower dish which has an aperture 5% forming a seat for a check valve 55. Said casing inalrcs a reasonably close it within the cylinder 57 which aecured to the bottom of be 1 by screws 58 or otherwise, and practically,constitutes a dasi pot taken in connection with the plunger just descril'icd. A valve stop and located at the bottomof cylinder 57 according to the piesent design consists of a cup 50 f stened to the top of an adjusting screw 61 scrcv-siug into the bottom of cyl indcr 5?. This stop prevents the ball valve from dcsccndin beyond a certain point, the cage havinea 'iurcher downward move after he valve is arrested. Said valve 1 its seat by posts 52 extending i 50 to disk- At the bottom of cylinder 57 is an inlet 65 adjacent to which head 72 at its lower end which supports ait the connector bars and associated part Rod 71 is fastened, at its upper end to a' tootl ed rack 78 meshing with a pinion 79 secured to a shaft 80. Said shaft is journaled in bearings 81 and 82 mounted upon the cover 2. By reference bearing 82 is elongated in the form of a sleeve. The construction. of the parts is such that the r0- tation of shaft 80 will cause the raising or lowering of rack 78 and rod 71. Shaft 80 projects beyond the end of sleeve 82 and is there rigidly fastened to'a lever 85 by which the shaft may be rotated. Said lever is provided with a detent 86 adapted to enter notches 87 formed at various points in the end of sleeve 82. The lever may consequently be locked in dilierent positions, prefupon said lever. Said rod is operated by a hand grip 91 pivoted to the lever and rod 88 is urged toward sleeve 82 by a s ring 92 abutting lug 89. The other endof spring 92 abuts collar 93 fastened to said rod.

in operation, when the motor is standing still the parts occupy the position shown in Fig. 1 with the handle 85 extending vertically do vnward or downright, the connector bars s0, ll and &2 down out of contact with their respective terminals, the plunger 50, 52, 53, 56 down, and check valve seated upon stop 60 some distance above its valve seat. When the attendant wishes to start up he throws the lever 85 to a position vertically upward, permitting detent 86 to enter such the notches 87 as will hold the lever in this upright posilion. This iovement of the lever rotates the pinion 79 and lifts rack 78 and rod 71. lfhis causes urnvard pressure on the lower end of spring 7 iwhich in turn exerts upward pressure upon the framework comprising the strip 43, cylinder 4%, tube 46 and connector bars l0, all, 42. As aperture 5-l is open at the beginning or" the up ard movementol the parts all within cylinder 57 readily hows through it and odors little or no retitling action to such uprmrtl movement. is to let the oil rush into the eylincler as As soon. as valve is reached, however, it soon as the bottom of disk 53 has reached eloses aperture site which no oil can the bottom of said apertures. This permits enter the lower part the cylinder ex ept the connector bars to again more rapidly through the inlet this inlet is com. after they have left the starting terininals 7Q psratively small or may be IllilClG so by ps7 7 8, 9. Thus there is no appreciable i11- tially closing the valve 66, the subsequent tel-rel hetureen leaving of the starting terupirnrtl increment of the ports Wlll. be com; nnnals and making complete Contact with parstively slow. The Qzirts are so propon the running lJBiHllIif-EIS timed, practically that the quick initial up- Now considering the wiring connections 75 Word movement brings the connector bars for the form of apparatus shown in Fig, 3: from normal non running position shown The delta connection is shown in and in. 1 up int full engagement with the the star connection in Fig. 5. The general starting terminals 7, 8 -9 zinl lc gated tertiring connections for producing first a star 15 niinsils 30, 31, 352 'ihereoii'ter the rate of and then it clelts connection of the coils of so upward. movement is slow, the valve 66 bethe motor e e shown in the diagram, Fig. 6. ing so adjusted that the bars will not leave The three connector hers 4.0, all and 42 are the starting terminals until the niotor has loeutecl on the front of the strips 43 While attained its normal speed. in Big. 1 the the coiii'u bars 40, ll and 42 are simitarting and running terminal. are so close lii l fil'idli 0.(l the cool: of saicl strips. 5 together that the connector bars will engage Let A, ll, C, represent the three sets of coils running terminals before leaving the of e star-delta motor. Coil f'i is connecte starting ones. This is not esse itiel, Lit is ill one end by a conductor 10 to one of the permissible with r motor vounil tern'insls 30 and at ti o o em by a conis all for .ooth the starting and run- (luctor 11 to one oi the ter ninsls Coil B 90 sl of a given pair connected is connected at one end by a conductor 112 the some point in the motor Wine 'ng. to the remaining terminal and. at the l'ihen the attendant is other end by e cozu'luctoi- 113 to one of the the inotor he rota s the lever from upright terminals Coil. C is connected at one to downright positioi 'llh's instantly reend by a. col luctor 11% to the remaining 95 turns the parts to non l non running positcrininal 31 and at the other encl bv a con shown in log. 1, for the YRLVQ no is kept aluctor lie to the remaining terminal open by the uprush o oil through nper- The staring terminals '1', 8 9 are com and, theref is, there is nothing to nected. to the -i'iziribii g fuses 10, 11 12 re- 35 hinder the lowering of the zirts. will spectirely. The running terininels 13 ll 10o he noted that in "'1 ferret tollfitl'uctlo l and 15 are electrically connected to the rm the lever Will be (iOWn when the motor 31ing"i use 16, l! and 18 respectively. The is still and 1p v-rlen. the motor is r 'lnningfuses 1O anrl 16 are electrically connected to The lever itseh, tl'ierei orc, serves indiceone of the supply conductors 120 the fuses 11 {20 ViSilllB {it Hills; RC0 ShOW i tl t unt zi land l? are coi'incclccl to another of the suptenclent Whether this pnriculzir motor is ply conductors 1.31, end the fuses 12 and 18 running or not. are electrically connected to another of the The principle of construction 211d opcrssugply conductors 122. These conductors of the term oil apparel: shown in 120 121 and 122 represent the supply con- 4:) 4, 5 and G sulistzintizilly the same ClUCtOl'S of 21 three Wire system. The star the form above described. e inoi;li ing terminals 'i' S g-9 z 'e electrically consices in the inci'ensciil (l incc he no reel together through a conductor 123 tween e starting and running terminals to are located. on the back 01 the strips 43. The prevent shor circuit 3}, and the insniur of running 'tern'iinnls 13 ll, 15" are also lo 5.?) connecting the terminals to the in colt-( on the hack the strips. The trani- 2 ocuce the star -c clte connection. nel i3 is 'elccticslly connected through the ion here shown running fuse it to the supply conductor 120.

i The running terminal 1 t is electriosll connected througi'i the ru n"- I suppl conductor 12-1 at, o. to 12c until-3* is connected to the running to 1 1r suppl mconilii tor 122.

is suillcient to t izit the it e oon'iectoi ha e so with th s DQOLlVG sorting 125 e 01 Wlll be suprlietl 1e starting fuses and the coils will cl in star; 1nd flail when the bars are in contact with their rerunning terminals the current Will I30 ing a portion of the be supplied through the running fuses and the motor coils will be connected in delt Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a starting terminal, a running terminal, a movable connector for establishing circuit relation with the source of supply, said connector occupying successively at least three positions, to wit: initial, oi? position, starting position (in engagen'ient with said startin terminal) and running position (in engagement with said running terminal), means for yicldingly urging said connector to move from initial position through starting position to running position, retarding means for retarding, the movement of said connector, said retarding means being practically non-active during the movement of said connector from initial to starting position and automatically be coming fully active when said connector has reached starting position, and meansfor adjusting said retarding means to predetermine the point at which said retarding means shall change from non-active to active condition.

2. Apparatus of the class described, com prising a starting terminal, a running terminal, a removable connector for establishing circuit relation with the source of supply, said connector occupying successively at least three positions, to wit: initial, oi? position, starting position (in engagement with said starting terminal) and runningposition (in engagement with said running terminal), means for jlioldingly urging said connector to more from initial position through starting position to running position, fluid controlled retarding means for retarding the movement of said connector, a valve seating in said. retarding means, and adjustable means for rendering said valve non-active during the movement of said connector from initial position to starting position and thereafter permitting said valve to automatically come into action.

3. Apparatus of the class described comprising a starting terminal, a running terminal, a movable connector for establishing circuit relation with the source of supply, means for yieldingly urging said connector to engage said terminalssuccessively, a dash pot and plunger for retarding the movement of said connector, a valve in said plunger for determining the rate of movement thereot, means for holding said valveopen durtravel of said plunger and means for regulating'said holding means to thereby regulate the po nt of closing of said valve.

4-. An automatic electric switch comprising a plurality of terminals, a switching connector adapted to engage them scrz'ctz'm,

menses a spring for causing automatic movement of said connector, a dash pot, a plunger in said dash pot mechanically connected to said connector for retarding the movement thereof during certain portions of its travel in a forward direction, a valve in said plunger for controlling the rate of flow therethrough, means for holding said valve open during a predetermined portion of the travel of said plunger, said holding means being adjustable to thereby determine the point i t which said valve shall be closed.

5. An automatic electric switch comprising a starting terminal, a running terminal and an elongated terminal opposite to them, a connector bar adapted to connect said elon gated terminal with first the starting terminal and then the running terminal and vice versa, and a spring motor for moving said connector, said connector being movable parallel to itself to thereby produce a double break between said connector and the said terminals.

6. An automatic electric switch comprising a starting terminal, a running t rminal, an elongated terminal opposite to them, a

connector bar movable parallel to itself and adapted to engage said starting and running terminals successively while in engagement with said elongated terminal, a spring device ior moving said connector and means for automatically changing the rate of movement of said connector at different portions of its travel.

T. An automatic electric switch comprising a plurality of terminals, a movable connector, a spring device for moving said con nector into engagement with said terminals scriat'im, a rack and pinion for straining said spring, a hand lever for rotating said pinion to thereby strain and release said spring, and a detent for holding said lever in the position desired.

8. fqiparatus of the class described comprising a plurality of terminals, a movable connectn for establishing the circuit throui said terminals, spring motor means.

for moving said connector, means for setting the spring in said motor means under strain, a plunger mechanically attached to said motor means for controlling the rate of travel of said connector, a. valve for permitting the flow of retarding fluid through said manger, means for normally holding said valve open durin a predetermined portion of the travel ot said plunger, and a dashpot inclosing said. plunger and having an inlettherein behind said plunger and a relief opening at a point forward of said inlet "for rapidly admitting the retarding fluid sitter the plunger has traveled a predetermined distance in SiliCl dash pot.

9. Apparatus of the class described comprising a box adaptc l to contain oil, a plurality of terminals in said box, a connector,

a spring device for causing said connector In Witness whereof, I have hereunto sub to engage sald terminals seriaz'ima dash scnbed my name in the presence of two Witpot 111 sand box having an inlet 1n the botnesses.

tom, and a plunger in said dash potme- ARTHUR'C. MGWILLIAMS. 5 chanically connected to said spring device Witnesses: v

vfor retarding the movement of said eon HOWARD M. Cox,

nectar, MARGARET D. ROBB 

